Grey River Argus THURSDAY, June 23, 1927. MOTOR TAXATION.

Grey River Argus, 23 June 1927, Page 4

Grey River Argus THURSDAY, June 23, 1927. MOTOR TAXATION.

The resolution in favour of replacing the present motor tyre and car taxes with a petrol tax, passed by the Conference of South Island Progress Leagues, is doubtless in line with the policy to which the Government will this Session give effect. The motor has given the roading problem entirely a m*w aspect, ami the principle that the user should nay for roads is now generally accepted. Al the. Conference complaint was made that money raised in this Island is spent in the other, and it was also

resolved the number of motors registered should determine the distribution of the fund of the Main Highways Board. This principle would doubtless conflict in no great degree with that of transferring the motor impost to petrol. It is claimed motor taxation already totals £1,639.000 yearly, whereas £440,000 of this is included in the Alain Highways Board expenditure on 6600 miles of roads out of the. total of 41,000 miles of rural roads in the Dominion. The suggestion is thus 'made that the motorist is already paying plenty. The substitution of petrol for the other subjects of taxation is considered to assure greater fairness, though it. will put a disadvantage on vehicles which are uneconomical in the use of oil. Last. year there was £3,300.000 spent, on the 41,000 miles of rural roads, and £720.000 on the main highways, including 200 miles of small borough roads. The Public Works Department’s outlay was £563,000, while the Government gave £228,000 in subsidies to counties for roads. Thus the county ratepayers provided 54 per cent., or £1,800,000 of the total amount spent, on the roads. The Customs taxation on motor tyres was £190.000, while £250,000 was paid for motor registrations and licenses. Heavy traffic fees contributed £128,000, while £1.071, 000 was last year paid in duties on motors. This is equal to an impost of £lO per motor vehicle of all descriptions. Roading costs have doubled since 1913, and it is claimed that three-quarters of this increase would have taken place independently of motor traffic, on accounj of population and settlement increases. Main highways maintenance ner mile has rapidly risen of recent years. It was £5l per mile three, years ago, and is now £lOO per mile. The influence of the motor is there evident. The demand for better roads will soon mean an outlay on the highways of £l2O per mile per annum. Tt is claimed the motorist, now finds three-fifths of the outlay on 3900 miles of roadsand in add lion finds the whole cost of maintaining 1500 miles of main highwavs. It is evident that about £700.000 will be required from the petrol tax, which will probably increase the present total payments bv motorists to the extent of nearly £400,000 per annum. The ouestion, therefore, when the matter comes tin in Parliament will be the amount of tax per gallon of spirit. The Progress Leagues’ Conference has suggested threepence, which would rive half a i illion, and should thus scarcely meet Ihe situation.